Keyboard, trackpad stops working after unfolding

Question

Level 1

38 points

Keyboard, trackpad stops working after unfolding

I got a brand new Macbook Air the other week.

I noticed that sometimes, after folding the computer (with the OS running), then unfolding it - the keyboard and trackpad are not responding at the login screen. Actually if I press the keyboard it lights up properly but there is no access to the system. The only thing that works is the power button, so every time I have to power down the computer, then back on again.

Is this a know problem or should is my computer broken?

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Apr 17, 2012 12:31 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 10, 2012 8:48 AM in response to JonnyITokyo

I found the solution to my case....

By doing this:

Solved this by doing TWO things:

1) Deleting the google service as per the below info

2) Make sure that any other USB devices (in our case a Suunto MovesLink USB device) are disconnected and the software is stopped completely.

google services to be removed and location:

/Library/LaunchAgents:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 788 Jul 27 12:51 com.google.keystone.agent.plist

/Library/LaunchDaemons:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 814 Jul 27 12:51 com.google.keystone.daemon.plist

More info can be found here, including other situations with other apps:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4315898?start=15&tstart=0

Thanks to all for the ongoing attempts!

I was about to replace the entire motherboard and it would, probably, get back.. the sitiation above is related to Mac OS X 10.8.x and some apps / extensions etc

Leonardo

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Answer 2

JonnyITokyo Author

Level 1

38 points

Apr 18, 2012 5:28 PM in response to captfred

Hmm thanks for the response but I'm unsure about this. It seems that if I do a "SMC reset" I need to shutdown the computer first. Of course that always fixes the problem because it never appears after a fresh start of the computer. So I wouldn't know if that SMC reset actually helps the problem per se.

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Answer 3

JonnyITokyo Author

Level 1

38 points

Apr 25, 2012 4:42 AM in response to JonnyITokyo

So I did a SMC reset a while ago when the problem occurred again. The computer rebooted...

I'm not sure if this changed anything, because I didn't have any problem again until a minute ago when the same thing occurred again. Of course, I haven't done a Pram reset but I just get the feeling that... something is broken. :-P

What I'm wondering is:

- does this occur to a lot of people (only me?)

- if the above is true, do you all put up with it, or do you try to get a new computer/have it fixed with support?

I did have a problem with my iMac that I bought 1 1/2 year ago. Suddenly the disc drive just plain stopped working (1-3 months after purchase), no suggestions worked at all and there is a thread around here with tons of people with the same problem (believe me, the disc drive in iMacs at least are of very low quality). They suggested to have the computer replaced (as did the woman at the Apple Store) - sure that would be possible if I could put up with not having access to my workstation for a couple of weeks while it's on repair/replace trip. But unfortunately I can't just sit around doing nothing for 2-3 weeks, I need that computer for my job.

I was deeply dissatisfied with Apple's non-handling of the issue, and so were everyone else with the same problem. Eventually the 1 year warranty ended and so here I am with my iMac, disc drive broken.

Sooo, here I am again, with my second Apple computer in life, and am just worried what will happen next. Is this something else that I'll just have to put up with, or will Apple fix it for me, or will I have to pay additional money to have this thing fixed? 😕

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Answer 4

Costyn

Level 1

20 points

May 13, 2012 11:59 PM in response to JonnyITokyo

Do you by chance run VirtualBox or VMWare? I've noticed that if I leave a VM running when I close my MBA I get the exact same behaviour. Only way to resolve the situation is hold down the power key for instant poweroff.

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Answer 5

JonnyITokyo Author

Level 1

38 points

May 21, 2012 7:49 PM in response to Costyn

Just got the problem again. Googled it again. First link, this thread. Amazing.

I do run VirtualBox. And I run it often, like 99% of the times I use this MBA.

Could a software like VB or VMWare really cause a problem like this?

To me it sounds like a problem with OS X, or the MBA, or...

In any case, I will try to remember to shut VB off everytime I fold my computer. Hope that helps.

* just for the record. I run WindowsXP in VirtualBox, and I mostly run that in (VB style) full screen mode, inside its own desktop (added through OS X interface) which means I normally have two desktops - OS X and WinXP. I just wonder what would happen if I SSH in from another computer and kill that VB process...

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Answer 6

Costyn

Level 1

20 points

May 22, 2012 2:53 AM in response to JonnyITokyo

Yep, pretty sure this is it. Last Friday I closed the lid on my MBA and then realized VirtualBox was still on. Sure enough the next day I couldn't log in due to keyboard/mouse focus being stolen bij VirtualBox (my guess is that something like this is going on).

I tried many different key combo's, but couldn't get it unlocked. Hard poweroff is the only option.

Your SSH solution sounds interesting, I'll test that out now.

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Answer 7

JonnyITokyo Author

Level 1

38 points

Jun 14, 2012 5:10 AM in response to Costyn

Not sure at all about this but I've noticed that if Windows XP is in full screen mode in VB, it can fire off the screen saver after awhile, and also by this "overriding" OS X's screen saver. Not sure if Windows XP can also set the computer itself into sleep mode (VB would have that taken care of??). Just as a precaution I have disabled the screensaver completely in Windows XP and I haven't seen the problem at hand since. Of course I have no idea if this is related at all but so far so good. If anything happens despite of this I'll come back... I guess. :-P

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Answer 8

Costyn

Level 1

20 points

Jun 15, 2012 4:34 AM in response to JonnyITokyo

I don't have a screensaver configured in my VB VM, so I don't think that's it. I'm pretty sure it's a USB thing. When I plug in a new USB device, the VB VM automatically gets control of it. The MBA's keyboard is USB, so when it wakes from sleep, the VB VM is also revived and gets control of the 'new' keyboard and mouse that are in the system.

You can filter out certain USB devices in the VM settings, I've included Apple internal keyboard/trackpad. Still seems to work, wonder if it'll filter out when resuming from sleep. As of now it doesn't seem to affect anything.

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Answer 9

Costyn

Level 1

20 points

Jul 25, 2012 12:36 AM in response to Costyn

The fix in VirtualBox of excluding the macbook keyboard didn't work. Experienced the problem last week again.

I still haven't found a relevant bug-report at VirtualBox, but the very general search terms describing the problem make Googling for it difficult.

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Answer 10

Aug 9, 2012 1:22 PM in response to JonnyITokyo

I have had this same problem with my Macbook. My keyboard and trackpad do not respond sometimes when I open the lid. The monitor wakes up, but the keyboard and trackpad do not. I also run VMWare, but it stays closed most of the time. Even if I have no programs running when I close the lid, it still happens. And at other times, I close and open the lid and everything works fine. Did you ever find a solution?

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Answer 11

fith

Level 1

4 points

Aug 19, 2012 3:51 PM in response to JonnyITokyo

^That is not even reliable for me.

I have VMWare installed, but have not used it in weeks and I have been having this problem increasingly often.

Could even the VMWare background helper process affect it?

I've had my Air for about a year and don't recall it ever happening before Mountain Lion. Hopefully an update (to ML or VMW) will take care of this soon.

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Answer 12

JonnyITokyo Author

Level 1

38 points

Aug 27, 2012 10:04 PM in response to John C Chamberlin

OP here.

I haven't seen this issue for many months now. I'd almost say it's gone.

I did uncheck all that USB support in the VM and since the problem seems to be gone. That might have been the culprit although it might just have been something else. Maybe one of those official OS X updates. And oh, I'm running Mountain Lion these days as well - was running Lion back then.

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Answer 13

Sep 4, 2012 11:31 PM in response to JonnyITokyo

Would like to add that I'm also experiencing this issue. Happended only after upgrading to Mountain Lion on my 2011 MBA. Also have to force shutdown every time it happens and it still happens, quite often. I do not have virtualization apps.

Already updated to 10.8.1 and reset SMC. No change.

Really hope it's just a software issue.

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Answer 14

aRock10

Level 1

0 points

Sep 17, 2012 6:49 PM in response to jpacs2007

I have the same issue as jpacs2007. I don't VMWare installed. I did bring it to the genious bar. They couldn't pinpoint the cause but suggested reinstalling the OS via restart and holding Apple-R. I have yet to try it because it takes around an hour or so but I plan to this weekend. I'll post the outcome.

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Answer 15

Sep 19, 2012 5:59 PM in response to aRock10

This is also happening to me and only started happening when I upgraded to Mountain Lion (how I really wish I never bothered).

I can reproduce this 100% of the time now as everytime the computer goes into sleep and then wakes the trackpad and keyboard are completely frozen (bar the power button which you can press and hold but not press and select using Enter etc.).

I've rebuilt twice using Mountain Lion once restoring all my files from my timecapsule backup and once just a complete vanilla installation with no additional software. Both cases I still have the issue.

I have noticed however that you can plug a USB mouse in and it will work proving that it's just the internal input devices affected by this issue.

I've been systematically trying to pinpoint the service / process which maybe causing this but to no avail as yet... I will keep on it.

It only seems to be later machines affected also as I have an older MacBook Pro & 2010 iMac i7 which have both been fine... weird!

I like everyone else with this issue (and it seems to be really really common) have been waiting for an update / patch from Apple to no avail... It really is **** poor that Apple use the users as Q&A subjects for their software.

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